Skip Navigation



ToxSci Advance Access published online on May 28, 2003
Toxicological Sciences, doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfg144
Toxicological Sciences © Society of Toxicology 2003; all rights reserved
This Article
Right arrow Advance Access manuscript (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
74/2/352    most recent
kfg144v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wickramaratna, J. C.
Right arrow Articles by Hodgson, W. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wickramaratna, J. C.
Right arrow Articles by Hodgson, W. C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Received February 26, 2003; accepted April 30, 2003
© 2003 Society of Toxicology

In Vitro Toxicology and Alternative Testing

Species Dependent Variations in the in Vitro Myotoxicity of Death Adder (Acanthophis) Venoms

Janith C. Wickramaratna 1, Bryan G. Fry 2, Wayne C. Hodgson 1*

1 Monash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
2 Australian Venom Research Unit, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: wayne.hodgson{at}med.monash.edu.au.


  Abstract

Based on early studies on Acanthophis antarcticus (common death adder) venom it has long been thought that death adder snake venoms are devoid of myotoxicity. However, a recent clinical study reported rhabdomyolysis in patients following death adder envenomations, in Papua New Guinea, by a species thought to be different to A. antarcticus. Subsequently, a myotoxic phospholipase A2 component was isolated from A. rugosus (Irian Jayan death adder) venom. The present study examined the venoms of A. praelongus (northern), A. pyrrhus (desert), A. hawkei (Barkly Tableland), A. wellsi (black head), A. rugosus, A. sp. Seram and the regional variants of A. antarcticus for in vitro myotoxicity. Venoms (10-50 µg/ml) were examined for myotoxicity using the chick directly (0.1 Hz, 2 ms, supramaximal V) stimulated biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation. A significant contracture of skeletal muscle and/or inhibition of direct twitches were considered signs of myotoxicity. This was confirmed by histological examination. All venoms displayed high phospholipase A2 activity. The venoms (10-50 µg/ml) of A. sp. Seram, A. praelongus, A. rugosus and A. wellsi caused a significant inhibition of direct twitches and an increase in baseline tension compared to the vehicle (n = 4-6; two-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). Furthermore, these venoms caused dose-dependent morphological changes in skeletal muscle. In contrast, the venoms (10-50 µg/ml; n = 3-6) of A. hawkei, A. pyrrhus and regional variants of A. antarcticus were devoid of myotoxicity. Prior incubation (10 min) of CSL death adder antivenom (5 units/ml) prevented the myotoxicity caused by A. sp. Seram, A. praelongus, A. rugosus and A. wellsi venoms (50 µg/ml; n = 4-7). In conclusion, clinicians may need to be mindful of possible myotoxicity following envenomations by A. praelongus, A. rugosus, A. sp. Seram and A. wellsi species.

Key Words: Acanthophis, A. antarcticus, antivenom, death adder, myotoxic, Phospholipase A2, A. praelongus, rhabdomyolysis, A. rugosus, venom .


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.